Newly created non-profit helps feed Northern Virginia families impacted by inflation

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – As the vacation season will get below full swing and inflation continues to rise, many residents throughout the DMV are coping with meals insecurity and homelessness, so to assist, non-profits, comparable to Constructed to Serve primarily based in Northern Virginia, are doing what they’ll to offer wholesome meals these in want.

The group’s free meals distribution bought greater than a dozen automobiles to line up alongside Colvin Avenue in Alexandria Saturday morning. 

The non-profit led by President and government director,Nikki O’Dell made it attainable at hand out brown baggage stuffed with what she mentioned, are wholesome meals gadgets.

“I wrestle simply desirous about how so many individuals don’t get a chance to have easy fundamental requirements in life,” mentioned O’ Dell.

The small group has solely been in place since Could of 2020, however already, it has served greater than 400 households and distributed over 1100 meals throughout the DMV.

“Occasions are tight and it’s not about any unhealthy decisions it’s not about making unhealthy choices it’s about life’s circumstances,” O’Dell went on to say.

Constructed to Serve runs on the mission, to Join Communities to Alternatives and Assets with Fairness —or just C.O.R.E.

“Perceive that you just won’t be in a ship proper now however that boat can come your method any day,” O’Dell mentioned.

“You may change from a yacht to a sailboat to a raft to floating within the water at any given time so there must be no judgement.”

Brian Foster is a primary time volunteer with Constructed to Serve and even introduced alongside his six-year-old son, Ian.

“I might bear in mind a time the place I used to be residing verify to verify paying payments and solely having $20, $30 left to final for a month,” mentioned Foster. “So I imply, I do know that feeling properly however I’m simply so lucky to have a job the place I don’t have to fret about that anymore.”

The non-profit’s mission isn’t to solely feed these in want however to additionally focus a few of their efforts on space youth who might have some path and steerage in life.

“We’ve got some wonderful packages arising and certainly one of them is to interact youngsters by having them put all their telephones away and creating curated occasions for them to socialize,” defined O’Dell.

“They method they’ll expertise what it’s prefer to exit to a public restaurant and to exit on public transportation and how you can behave.”

 Click on right here to help the group.